THE CHANGING ROLE OF IT AND AI IN HRM

SOME USES OF IT IN HRM ARE VERY COMMON AND HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR MANY
YEARS. THEY INCLUDE:
• KEEPING EMPLOYEE RECORDS ON DATABASES
• RECORDING FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES ON PLANNING SOFTWARE, SO ALL
WORKERS HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON
• WHEN THEY ARE EXPECTED AT WORK
• HOLIDAY PLANNING ON SIMILAR SOFTWARE, SO WORKERS CAN ENTER THEIR
PREFERRED ANNUAL HOLIDAY DATES.
 RECENT IT APPLICATIONS IN HRM

• RECRUITMENT: WEB PORTALS ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO POST DETAILS

OF VACANT POSITIONS AND THE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED OF APPLICANTS. THESE PORTALS MAKE E-RECRUITMENT
VISUAL, ALLOWING JOB APPLICANTS TO POST VIDEOS DESCRIBING
THEIR MAIN SKILLS AS WELL AS SHOWCASING THEIR POTENTIAL.
MANY WORKERS ARE NOW RECRUITED THROUGH SOCIAL
NETWORKS SUCH AS FACEBOOK. WHEN A BUSINESS POSTS A JOB
POSITION ON ITS FACEBOOK PAGE, ANY FOLLOWER CAN APPLY IF
THEY QUALIFY FOR THAT POSITION.
Training and development: Training programmes can be
uploaded on IT, such as essential induction training
programmes. They can be viewed by employees as many
times as needed. Illustrations and demonstrations can be
included to aid understanding. Assessment techniques can
be incorporated, allowing employees to check their
understanding and progress on the training course.
Employee performance management: computerized
performance management software allows
regular recording and updating of employee
performance. Managers can see easily how much work
is being accomplished by each employee in a given
time period. The software helps in the flow of
information about employee performance across the
business. This should be shared with employees
and can help improve their performance.
 THE FUTURE OF IT AND AI IN HRM

• ALTHOUGH AI IS NOT CURRENTLY EXTENSIVELY USED TO INTERVIEW

CANDIDATES, IT CAN READ HUNDREDS OF JOB APPLICANTS’ DETAILS VERY
RAPIDLY. IT CAN THEN EVALUATE THESE CANDIDATES WITHOUT HUMAN BIAS
OR ERROR. IT CAN RECORD AND ANALYSE THOUSANDS OF POSSIBLE REPLIES TO
STANDARD INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. THESE REPLIES ARE THEN CLASSIFIED
ACCORDING TO APPLICANT TYPE. APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS CAN
THEN BE ASKED, BASED ON PREVIOUS ANSWERS.
• Many companies are adding chatbots to their HRM systems to
provide answers to employees’ questions. Common questions
related to pay, holiday entitlements, social benefits and
employees’ rights can be answered by computer software.
Answering these questions in person can be both repetitive and
time-consuming. Using a chatbot allows HR personnel to focus
on responding to more complex and urgent employee issues.
• Virtual reality (VR) is breaking away from its computer gaming
image and is being used to develop realistic and interactive
training courses. The idea of building new worlds can be applied
to training situations as well as gaming. For example, a VR
simulation of an air emergency could be used to train airline cabin
crew. The benefits of developing VR training programmes include
the costs saved in trainers’ time and the space needed for training.
• Biometric time clocks use biological markers to identify employees.
Popular methods of biometric time-tracking include fingerprint scanning
and facial recognition. They can identify which employees are present at
work, what time they arrive and what time they leave. They prevent
unauthorized people entering business premises, for example stopping
employees from allowing friends or relatives to check in for work and
claim wages on their behalf. Biometric technology can also automatically
cut off employee access to computer systems once the employee has
checked out and left the workplace.
Evaluation of increased use of IT in HRM
• The use of IT frees up HRM time for more important strategic issues.
• It can reduce social and personal contact between HRM and employees
and make the HR managers seem remote.
• The increased dependence on IT-based communication methods reduces
the opportunity for two-way group discussions unless conferencing
software is used.
• There is a risk of creating a sense of being watched and monitored at all
times amongst employees.